Covid-19 Ireland: 28 more deaths and 500 cases of Covid-19

RNLI and Coastguard ask public not to use sea for recreation

The Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) and RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) are asking the public not to take part in any water-based activity on or in the sea, while the current national emergency restrictions are in place.

Both organisations are highlighting the importance of minimising the risk to Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteer crews, Helicopter crew and other front line emergency services, through being unintentionally exposed to COVID-19.

RNLI and Coast Guard are confirming that their Search and Rescue services are fully operational.

Under normal circumstances, many people would be heading to the coast this weekend to enjoy the Easter bank holiday. Given the current COVID-19 outbreak, both organisations are urging everyone to follow Government instructions, which are clear: stay home, protect frontline services and save lives.

Gareth Morrison, Head of Water Safety at the RNLI, said: ‘We know people who live near the coast still want to exercise by the sea, but when you do this, please think of the potential impact of your actions on RNLI lifeboat volunteers and other emergency services.’

17:02Joe O'Shea

Daily Briefing from the Department of Health due shortly

The daily briefing outlining the latest numbers in the Covid-19 outbreak will be held in Dublin at 5.35pm today - so very shortly.

We will have the latest figures here and on our social media channels immediately after they are announced.

Thanks for staying with us through the day on our live blog - we will continue through to tonight and will be back again with all of your news and updates from early tomorrow.

16:55Joe O'Shea

UK COBRA committe meets as extension to lockdown there is expected

The Covid-19 outbreak has hit the UK hard - and an extension of the lockdown rules is expected to be announced there early next week.

The UK government's COBRA emergency committee is meeting right now over as Britain braces for a long extension to the rules.

Boris Johnson's deputy will lead a COBRA summit with the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish governments ahead of an April 16 deadline to review restrictions across the UK.

There will be no formal review or decision on continuing the lockdown at this afternoon's meeting - because the evidence it's based on only arrives next week.

But Dominic Rabb is expected to make clear tonight that there is no end in sight to the lockdown - as coronavirus has not even hit its peak in the UK.

Government sources have warned it would be "very clear" that no existing data suggests anything other than the lockdown needs to continue for now.

16:51Joe O'Shea

Government releases official stats for Coronvirus in one "graphical storyboard"

This will appeal to the people who are fascinated by the statistics behind the pandemic in Ireland.

The Government has released an online collection of graphs that visually tell the story of the Covid-19 outbreak in Ireland - based on official figures from the HSE and other bodies.

It is very involved and a little complex - but fascinating all of the same.

It's all on the Research and Analysis page of the Houses of the Oireachteas - to access you can just Click HERE and look for the series of slides marked - COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in the Republic of Ireland: A graphical storyboard"

One of the graphs

16:24Joe O'Shea

Signs of anger with visitors breaking the rules in West Cork

We know West Cork can be one of the most welcoming and hospitable places in Ireland - but people there are worried about visitors streaming into the beautiful coastal region over the Easter Weekend.

The message is clear - do not travel beyond 2km from your home unless it is essential.

This picture was taken this morning on the Beara - click for story below.

A sign of the times.

16:17Joe O'Shea

Another local business supporting our frontline responders

Great to see this - well deserved (and they make lovely sandwhiches, too)

15:59Joe O'Shea

This is hilarious! Spot on imitation of Neil Prendeville and his morning show on RedFM

Excellent stuff - he's got the voice down anyhow!

15:54Joe O'Shea

Northside mobilises to help elderly with expanded Meals On Wheels

Across Cork city and county - people are mobilising to help the most affected - there are almost too many initiatives and programmes to report.

This is a once in a lifetime event - and communities are coming together like never before in most people's memories.

On the northside, local groups including the Knocknaheeny/Hollyhill Youth Project and St. Mary's On the Hill Senior Citizens Club have come together to produce hundreds of meals each day for a vastly expanded Meals on Wheels programme.

They have the backing of the HSE, Cork City Council, Department of Social Welfare, TUSLA and An Garda Siochana.

All sorts of vans and vehicles have been brought in to distribute the food - from Garda vans to community youth group minibuses.

It's a magnificent effort - we can only applaud them all.

Noel O'Callaghan, Knocknaheeny from Hollyhill Youth Project and Kathleen McGarry, St. Mary's On the Hill Senior Citizens Club

Four more deaths in Northern Ireland:

There were also 138 new confirmed cases, bringing the total number of cases in the region to 1,477.

15:01Joe O'Shea

M&S are donating and delivering food to frontline staff at CUH

Marks & Spencers are delivering clothing and food to patients and frontline health workers including staff in CUH.

The department store chain is donating thousands of sets of soft thermals to be used by frontline workers at Covid-19 Testing Centres.

M&S is also making weekly free food donations for the HSE workers at The Mater Hospital and St James Hospital and Cork University Hospital.

Ken Scully, M&S Ireland Country Manager said: "Our hardworking HSE workers are doing an incredible job on the frontline and we want to do whatever we can to support them, in the best way that we can."

14:58Gavin O'Callaghan

Statement from Debenhams

In these unprecedented times the Debenhams Group is having to take some really tough decisions.

The Republic of Ireland retail operations had trading challenges which were exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19.

In the UK, Debenhams has entered into administration in order to protect the business. Regrettably, due to the challenges facing Debenhams Retail (Ireland) Ltd. (“DRIL”), the directors of DRIL anticipate that the UK administrators will appoint a liquidator to the Irish operations.

Debenhams has already suspended trading in the Republic of Ireland stores, the majority of which are not now expected to reopen. Our customers in the Republic will continue to be able to shop with Debenhams online through www.debenhams.ie .

Stefaan Vansteenkiste, CEO of Debenhams, said: “We are desperately sorry not to be able to keep the Irish business operating but are faced with no alternative option in the current environment.

"This decision has not been taken lightly and is no way a reflection on our Irish colleagues, whose professionalism and commitment to serving our customers has never been in question.

"The colleagues have been placed on temporary lay-off under the Irish Government’s payment support schemes for employers and we will be working with them to support them through this process.”

14:54Joe O'Shea

Visits to Coillte's Cork woods are down by 95-99% since start of lockdown

Coillte has thanked the people of Cork for observing the latest restrictions and staying away from their forest parks across the Rebel County.

Visitor numbers to forests managed by the state agency have fallen by at least 95 per cent.

"Coillte thanks members of the public in County Cork and asks that they continue to respect the measures in place to protect public health and wellbeing," said a spokesperson.

Coillte forest car parks remain closed. However, Coillte forests are open for those who live within 2 kilometres of their home in accordance with Government guidelines.

14:36Joe O'Shea

RTE will have TV special on Saturday night - calling on nation to Shine A Light

RTÉ is calling on the Irish public to come together to shine a light this Saturday, 11 April at 9pm to create a moment of solidarity in our battle against the Covid 19 pandemic.

President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina are set to shine their light from the Áras. Government buildings will light up with a host of national and local public buildings across the island shining their beacon lights, along with Irish embassies and missions around the world.

#SHINEYOURLIGHT #LONRAIGHDOSHOLAS is calling on people of all ages, to be as creative as they wish to either power their phone torches, flash house lights, leave a candle safely in the window or even put up Christmas lights, to participate in the initiative from wherever they are.

RTÉ will be creating special content on TV, radio and online to mark this coming together and share our moment of light during what is a dark time for many.

Coverage begins on RTÉ Radio 1 at 8:30pm with Shine Your Light with Cork's John Creedon featuring music from some of our finest artists including Martin Hayes and Glen Hansard, and poetry from Moya Cannon.

Sinead O'Connor is coming to Cork

At 9pm, RTÉ will broadcast #ShineYourLight, a short live special on RTÉ One television, RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ Player and RTE.ie/culture to share this moment. It will feature music performances and spoken word from artists including Sinead O'Connor, Paula Meehan and Colm Mac Con Iomaire. It will also broadcast images from around the country as families, individuals and workers shine their light, along with local and national public buildings and embassies around the world, joining in solidarity with their communities and loved ones near and far.

Sinéad O’Connor who will perform during the special five-minute broadcast has spoken about her involvement and who she will shine her light for.

14:26Joe O'Shea

Major roads around Cork city quiet

Many of us have seen the photos of traffic jams on roads out of Dublin heading south to the holiday hot-spots - but live traffic cams show the main roads around Cork city to be mostly quiet at the moment - this is the N40 at Bloomfield looking west at 2.20pm today.

N40 looking west at 2.20pm today

14:03Joe O'Shea

The tough reality for frontline doctors in Cork

Dr Paul Kelly is an Oconoligst working in the Bon Secours hospital in Cork - he has been tweeting about working on the frontline.

14:01Gavin O'Callaghan

Major blow for Cork city as Debenhams goes into liquidation

13:39Michael Hayes

There are checkpoints around the county with people being turned back:

13:10Joe O'Shea

Westlife gigs in Cork under threat as they cancel UK shows

This does not look good for Westlife fans who had hoped to see them in Cork

12:38Joe O'Shea

UK Police forces adopting a Zero Tolerance policy with house parties.

Greater Manchester Police has warned people not to breach lockdown rules over Easter after it had to break up 660 parties last weekend.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins called on "each and every one of us need take this seriously".

There were 1,132 coronavirus-related breaches reported between Saturday and Tuesday in Manchester.

That included 494 house parties - some with DJs, fireworks and bouncy castles - and 166 street parties.

One woman in Bury became the first person in Greater Manchester to be charged under the Coronavirus Act 2020 after police had to repeatedly shut down one of the parties.

The force also had to deal with 122 different groups gathering to play sports, 173 more gatherings in parks and 112 incidents of anti-social behaviour and public disorder.

12:36Michael Hayes

Do you know anyone that could be caught out?

12:36Joe O'Shea

Only 80 items per home-delivery under new rules from Tesco

Tesco dominate the supermarket home-delivery service - and they are bringing in new rules to ensure the elderly and isolated are first in the queue.

The new rules will give early access to the most needy when it comes to delivery slots.